Pipe cleaner



Jan. V25, 1938.

PIPE CLEANER Fileg March 24, 1956 I INVENTOR.'

.I wHlTlNG 2,106,584 Y Patented Jan. 25, 1938 TOPFIC- -1 PIPE CLEANER Jasper Whiting, Boston, Mass. Application March 24, 1936, serial No. 70,560 3 claims. (01.131913) This invention relates to implements designed for use in cleaning the inner walls Aofl the bowls of smoking pipes. u

After a pipe has been smokedv for some time, the inside of the bowl'becomes carboniZed-and a cake builds up on it. It is desirable from time to time to remove more or less `of this accumulation but in a controlled manner suited to the requirements of the particular conditions and the preferences of the smoker. So far as I have been able to learn, no satisfactory tool for performing this function has heretofore been available.` The present invention aims to supply this need. In addition, it is also an object of the invention to devise an implement of this character which will be sturdy and substantial in construction, economical to manufacture, and capable of being folded into a small space suitable for carrying in the pocket.

The nature of the invention will be readily understood from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a side view of a pipe cleaner constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the device shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the cleaner;

Fig. 4 is an edge view of the cleaner;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on approximately the line 5-5, I'Iig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the device in its closed or folded condition.

The construction shown in the drawing comprises two jaws indicated, respectively, at 2 and 3. These jaws are pivotally connected together by a pin or rivet 4. Also, each jaw has a handle pivoted to it, that for the jaw 2 being indicated at 5, while the other handle is shown at 6. The pivot pins connecting these handles to their respective jaws are indicated at 'i and 8, respectively. A spring l coiled around the pivot 4 has its opposite legs lying under the respective pivot pins 1 and 8, and it is so biased or tensioned that it tends normally to hold the jaws 2 and 3 in contact with each other, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. By compressing the handles the jaws may be spread apart.

Preferably the jaws are made of channel section, and of any suitable metal, such as stainless steel, and they are located back to back so that the free edges of one jaw point away from the opposite jaw. These edges may be sharpened or serrated' or a combination of 'these two edge forms may be used. In any event, when they are placed inside the bowl of thepipe, as shown in Fig. l, the handles may be compressed to expand the jaws sufficientlyk to bringthem into scraping l5 engagement with the inner walls of the bowl. Then by rotating the bowl around the jaws,ltlne.l entire wall surface may be scraped and cleaned. This entire operation is under the control of vthe user so that he can cut away as much yof the 10 cake on the inside of the bowl as he desires.

When the device is not in use, it may be folded into the compact form shownin Fig. 6. This object is conveniently realized by making the handles 5 and 6 of channel sectionand suiiicient- 15 ly wider and longer than the jaw members so that each handle may be folded into position to enclose its respective jaw. Also, by suitably rounding the ends any sharp projections that would wear holes in the pocket can be eliminated. 20

Upon opening the cleaner, the square surfaces a-a at the end of each jaw engage similar surfaces on the handle, one of which is shown at b in Fig. 6, andstop the relative swinging movement of these parts when the handles are sub- 25 stantially in alinement with the jaws.

The channel form of the jaws and handles is of advantage not only in facilitating the folding of the device, as just described, but also in producing a much stronger construction from a 30 given weight of metal. In addition, it facilitates the manufacture of a sturdy but inexpensive hinge or pivot construction between the two jaws. As best shown in Figs. 4 and 5, a section of the bottom of the upper jaw 2 is punched down to 35 form two downwardly extending ears c-c which are squeezed together, or inset sufficiently, to extend between two upwardly projecting ears d-d formed by punching upwardly a section of the main web of the upper jaw 3. After, or in con- 40 nection with, the punching operation, the ears may be trimmed or shaped to the desired contours, and the holes for the pivot 4 are made.

The invention thus provides a pipe cleaner which has proved in actual use to be highly ef- 45 fective, convenient to use, and extremely compact. The fact that the jaws are of channel or .grooved form and are located back to back, provides four scraping or cutting edges so spaced that they do not dig in.v Their scraping action also 50 is facilitated by notching the edges in such a manner as toprovide flat topped teeth, as best shown in Fig. 3, the teeth on the edges of each jaw preferably being staggered with reference to each other. By providing the device with folding u handles which enclose the jaws, the cleaner can be carried in the pocket without danger of soiling the clothing.

While I have herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be evident that the invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit or scope thereof.

Having thus described desire to claimas new is:

l. In a pipe cleaner, the combination 4ofi: two jaws, each of said jaws consisting of one-piece channel members, handles connected to said jaws for operating them, said handles being of channel section and the handles being pivoted tothe'lr respective jaws so that they may be swungiinto.y folded relationship to the jaws, said handles being of such dimensions as to" reciveiandtofsubk may` invention, what I stantially enclose said jaws when the parts are. in their folded relationship, both said jawsand'v said handles being disposedy substantiallyv back1 tonbackuwheni' the device-is in its open/:oriuniold-V edicondition, each-ofsaid jaws having.; intermedi'ate their lengthsfparts projecting towardrther otherchannel` memberand aperturesbetween said parts; and` a i pin `passing-f,through' said' partsfand. lyingsubstantially withinthe` apertures;

2`-.` Inla f pipe'` c1eaner, the combination of two jaws. i, each 1 of said jawsr consisting, of f ones-piece channel members,` handles connected withsaid jaws for` spreading; the jaws when A the handles are;compressed,` a spring serving normally to urge saidf'handles away;- from each othensaid jaws. being 1.of sheet` metal and being44 arranged; subi-f stantlally'-backfto'v back; wherebythe 'edges' of eachl jaw extend away from the other jaw, one of said jaws having a pair of integral ears extending from the back thereof and the other having parts projecting therefrom, said ears overlapping a portion of the other jaw at a point intermediate the length of the latter jaw at which said projecting parts are located, and a pivot pin extending through said ears and said projecting parts of the latter jaw and hinging the two jaws together,

said handles being, of channelA section-and being erated by the handles and connected: towtlie:pivot,v

lsaid'-resilient-1nieansahaving, a' part t. thereof: positioneci,I in;l thez apertures; both: handles i*being of," channelsectlon andiripivoted. tor their. respective# lationship to thefjaws;l saxdihandlesfebeing. of. such;y

dimensionsI as to: receive and; toI substantially enclose said-'jaws whemthef partssar-e in: their: folded,4

dles, being; disposed.. substantially backlatov back'y when*` thezdevicely isfin'` its; open` or :unfolded conidtibna.

JASPERMWIfIIflIlilG.- 

